Roundabout



y 14, 1940- SPINELLI I 2,200,864

ROUNDABOUT Filed Aug. 50, 1959 INVENTOR.

Lou/s SPINELLI F12 2 BY JA f ATTORN Patented May 14,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE 7 2 Claims.

This invention relates generally, as indicated, to roundabouts and pertains more specifically to roundabouts having a rotatable track.

Heretofore, roundabouts of the rotating track type had substantially circular tracks; One of the objects of this invention is to provide a roundabout with a rotary track which is very irregular in horizontal projection and which is undulated in vertical projection. Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby cars or carriages and the track are rotated in opposite directions from each other. A further object of the invention is to arrange the oppositely rotating track and cars so as to produce the physical sensation and optical illusion of speed. A still further object is to provide safety features for the passengers.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain structure constituting, however, but one of the various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a roundabout embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation of the device illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the track and carriage shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, it will be seen that the invention comprises a circular base I which supports, by frictionless thrust bearings 2, a vertical shaft 3.

A conical member 4 has a sphere-like apex 5 which terminates in annular flange 6 forming a hole through which the top 1 of shaft 3 projects. Extending horizontally from and annularly about the base of member 4 is a flange 8 supporting annular flange 9 which is in the general shape of a cone but in inverted relation to member 4. The member 4 and flanges 8 and 9 may be integral or connected together by suitable means, such as welding. Flange 9 is irregular and undulated or waved so that a carriage propelled along the track H), which is secured by any suitable means to the undulated waved portion of flange 9, will travel up and down vertically, due to the undulations, and in and out horizontally, due to the irregularity. Secured to the under side of the flange 8 is a plurality of rollers or wheels I l which ride on base l. It is thus seen that the track 10 is rotatable with respect to the base I and is supported thereby with great stability.

Securely attached to the top I of shaft 3 is one .or more (only one is shown) rigid arms 52 which extend slightly beyond the point of mean horizontal displacement of said track it], at which point each arm lZ'houses a'pin l3, which acts as a horizontal axis forpivotal movement of a swivel block l4. Mounted for vertical sliding action in a hole of swivel block I4 is rod [5 which has pivotally attached to its lower end for rotation about a radially extending axis H, a carriage. The carriage may take any form, such as a horse, a wagon or a duck and as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the instant carriage is in the form of skis mounted on a base It which is, as indicated above, suitably rotatable about axis I1 and which has attached thereto a pair of skis It. A handle bar 20 for the passenger to hold on to is secured to rod I5. Attached to the lower end of said base i8 is an inverted U-shaped element 2i which fits over the rounded top 22 of the track l and which carries a roller 23 which is curved to mate with the rounded top 22 of the track ID. Two auxiliary rollers 24 and 25. are provided for safety purposes at the front and rear ends of element 2i to ride on the under side of the track it] on either side of the web 9.

Due to the rollers 24 and 25 the carriage will, while traveling up and down, at all times remain tangent to that portion of the track over which it is traveling. This is best seen in Fig. 4. The horizontal in and out movement of the carriage will be accommodated by the pivoting of swivel block M with respect to arm 12 and as the carriage goes up and down and in and out the rod It will correspondingly slide up and down through the swivel block it, as is indicated by the dotted lines [6.

It is to be noted that the only movement of the carriage with respect to the rod i is pivotal on the radial axis ll. Consequently, as the carriage travels in and out it will tilt with respect to a vertical, as Viewed in Fig. 3. During this tilting action the roller 23 rolls on the inner, middle or outer part, as the case may be, of rounded top 22 of track Ill, and the carriage pivots about the center of the rounded top 22 of the track l0 as an instant center. The rollers 24 and 25 are spaced slightly from the track and the inside of the U is recessed as at 26 to further accom of which carries a pinion 28 in mesh with bevel gears 29 and 30. Gear 29 is attached to shaft 3 and is interposed between it and the base I so as to rest upon bearing 2. The web of gear 29 has an upwardly extending annular flange 3| to support thrust roller bearings 32 which support gear 3!! and spaces it so that both gearsv 29 and 30 are simultaneously meshed with pinion '28.

Attached to? gear 30 and surrounding shaft 3 is a tube 33 which is rigidly connected, as by welding, to flange 6'. A bushing '34 is interposed between the tube 33, into which it is press fitted, and shaft 3.

It is thus seen that the motor simultaneously drives each gear in a different direction and com sequently drives the track and the carriage in different directions, thereby creating the optical illusion of speed.

If it is desired to rotate the, track with a different speed from that of the carriage, the pinion 28 is made longer and the gears 30 made of different size from that of gear 29.

The conical memberfi and the flange 9 should be decorated in harmony with the carriage used so as to create the proper atmosphere. When the carriage takes the form of a skiing apparatus,

the decorations are preferably mountainous.

The up and down, in and out and tilting action of the carriage produce the physical sensation of speed.

The carriage, it will be noted,vcannot leave the track. This, plus the handle bar 20 and general rigidity of device, provides adequate safety fea tures. Further safety can be had by providing the'skis with foot straps and the rod l with a strap to encircle the body of the passenger.

It is understood that this invention can be embodied in a toy or a full size amusement park roundabout.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly" claim as my invention:

1. Aroundabout comprising a rotatable sham mountain carrying thereon an upturned flange surrounding the same and having a track on its upper edge, a rotatable shaft having a radially projecting arm thereon, a carriagecarried on said track and connected to said arm, and means for driving said track and arm in. opposite directions.

2. In adevice of the character described, a base, an undulated track supptQ ited bysaid base, a rotatable element supported by saidbase, an arm connected to said element, a pivoted swivel block carried by said arm,,a rod slidable through said swivel block and. rotatable therein, and a carriage connected to the rod and riding on said track.

LOUIS SPINELLI. 

